DIY - Headrest DVD Players Installation (Sony/eBay ones)

[TheKingSim0n]

Originally Posted by NYCSterling

Can you clarify this please?
Can these new headrest tilt forward? or are they stuck in the one position?

You can move them forward SLIGHTLY but thats just about it, they were built i believe to stay in one position. But don't let that fool you from buying them, they really are Sony lasers, they really are very decently working bright headrests.

[m5james]

Can the DVD be played w/ the screen flipped up though? I sit pretty far back and it'd be pointless if the screen is pointing at my passengers knees. The DVD pops onto little tabs, but I don't know if that holds them in place enough, or if there is also a little disk on the back of the screen that sandwiches the DVD in place.

[hhhm3]

Good write up!
But not to take this the wrong way or negative but are you sure it’s made by Sony.
Any of the Sony systems I seen are pricy, in the thousands… Hope it is not counterfeit…

At one point I considered these units on ebay because of the cheap price, but when seen in reality, I decided against it...
The one I seen was sell for $395 +$95 shipping for the set.
I saw these kinds of affordable DVD systems at local car audio/video shops.
Than again your dvd headrest system is probably a different one than the one I looked at. These are so many after market ones…

Anyways, the vinyl color may slight match??? But you will see the difference right away and even worst, other people/relatives will see the difference in quality. Nothing worst than people thinking nice car/truck but cheap DVD/headrest... IMO I didn't like the screen compare to the more expensive ones (that’s a given).

After a lot of research, I ended up getting the Invision rear entertainment system. Been very happy with quality and look so far. Oh’ it can also plays Divx/Xvid/Mpeg1/2/3/4 (bonus!!) and I can hook up the Wii system to one or both screens for gaming or kids educational games.
Also the Invision system matched the warranty of my X5 (4year warranty!!!) because it is a BMW OEM part.
The saying is true "You get what you pay for".
I know this may sound sexist; “We are guys, get the best or you’ll always be think of it”.

[m5james]

See post #6, that's still my .02 on electronic pieces like this. Hell, my own hi-end BMW speakers in my car are made by Nokia, not BMW. I think all these manufacturers just shop for parts in their exclusive catalogs, assemble them and then charge whatever they think they can justify. I could really care less whats in a name as long as it works and I got it for a good price.

[hhhm3]

Originally Posted by m5james

See post #6, that's still my .02 on electronic pieces like this. Hell, my own hi-end BMW speakers in my car are made by Nokia, not BMW. I think all these manufacturers just shop for parts in their exclusive catalogs, assemble them and then charge whatever they think they can justify. I could really careless whats in a name as long as it works and I got it for a good price.

I never stated BMW OEM parts are made by BMW.

BMW OEM part means BMW tested and certified as a standard part for their vehicles regardless of the company that engineered and manufactures them. And BMW does manufacture their parts too. If you know anything you would know that at lease.

The BMW OEM part "DVD headrest" I was referring to, is made by Invision as I stated. And if was or not manufactured and assembled in China, it is irrelevant. China has high quality plants as well as lower quality plants. There are different levels of manufacturing and engineering design specs by the companies.
I am saying the Invision product is of higher quality than most of the products out there that I seen.
If you think you can get a product that is low priced and think it is the same or similar quality as the higher priced one, then you are living in a conspiracy theory!!
Look at any Sony product compare to RCA or Insignia. Different engineering and manufacturing, equals different quality products.

If you careless in a brand and price means everything, go get yourself a Pontiac G6!! That works just fine too! Different quality in research, engineering and manufacturing for sure! Go for it dude, knock yourself out!!!

[m5james]

Just because BMW approves something as certified doesn't mean it's the best choice. The government uses the cheapest bidder to build planes, BMW is no different. At no point and time, REGARDLESS of price, does that mean it's the best option. I have used an aftermarket radiator, along w/ a BMW employee here on the forums, because it's cheaper than what we could get from the dealership.

If price determines everything as to what is good and bad w/ your thinking of "you get what you pay for", then you've got another thing coming when owning a BMW. While I love all the BMW's I own, they are simply NOT worth what they were payed for when new, and sometimes not even used. My $65K MSRP'd 98 740il w/ 136K has more problems (replaced motor and diff at 124K) than my $14K MSRP'd 90 S10 Blazer (winter beater, ALL original) w/ 265k...and the Chevy gets better gas mileage.

You spend your money your way, I'll spend mine my way. I'm going to go finish watching my Vizio 47" that was half the price of the Sony, but looked EXACTLY the same picture quality wise while watching a BlueRay DVD on the shelf at Costco. Back to the topic.

[hhhm3]

I didn’t say just because BMW tested and certified it is a best choice.
BMW does choose high quality products to be in their OEM line and I do think this for the Invision system.
Another example for you, BMW has the best designed and quality X5 hitch kit their OEM line. If BMW was going on pricy, they would have picked the Curt hitch. It’s cheaper in price but also in quality. There goes your conspiracy theory…

[TheKingSim0n]

However when you are referring to these DVD Headrests, keep in mind that YES they are real SONY laser readers & according to myself and others who have purchased it on these forums, they work wonders. I have put in all types of dvds, driving rough to see if it had any effect on the discs within in them and everything seemed fine. Honestly these headrests seem VERY good for the price. Sure you can go ahead and spend more money on some special BMW E53 Build ones but honestly, both of them do the same thing + the ebay ones come with game controllers so you can play video games in the back, why not....

[hhhm3]

Originally Posted by TheKingSim0n

lol, Agreed.

And @ hhhm3...

However when you are referring to these DVD Headrests, keep in mind that YES they are real SONY laser readers & according to myself and others who have purchased it on these forums, they work wonders. I have put in all types of dvds, driving rough to see if it had any effect on the discs within in them and everything seemed fine. Honestly these headrests seem VERY good for the price. Sure you can go ahead and spend more money on some special BMW E53 Build ones but honestly, both of them do the same thing + the ebay ones come with game controllers so you can play video games in the back, why not....

TheKingSim0n,
As long as you are happy with the quality and the looks of the vinyl in your premium vehicle, that is all that matters. Who cares what other may think...

It is like having a million dollar house on water front and having Ikea furnishings.
Nothing wrong with Ikea, they work just fine.

I am very experience in buying budget electronics and from my experience most of them don't last very long. Usually after warranty period they go...
But something you can get luck and it will last long...

[m5james]

Simon, bro...for the 3rd time! Can the screens be flipped up/open and still have the DVD playing?